Cyberbullying perpetration has emerged as a world-wide societal issue; however, the majority of the research testing the predictors of cyberbullying behavior and the interventions that claim to ...reduce cyberbullying have inadequately applied sound theoretical reasoning. To assist education administrators, intervention specialists, social scientists, and others, we review the postulates of a recently developed theory that is unique to cyberbullying – the Barlett and Gentile Cyberbullying Model (BGCM). Specifically, we delve into the need for such a theory and how other similar theories may be inadequate in predicting cyberbullying above and beyond traditional bullying. Then we describe the learning-based theoretical foundation that helped to build the BGCM before reviewing research that validates such theoretical tenants. Finally, we conclude with how the BGCM can inform intervention efforts to hopefully reduce cyberbullying.
•This review focuses on applying cyberbullying theory to interventions.•The postulates, strengths, and limitations of the Barlett Gentile Cyberbullying Model are discussed.•Interventions juxtaposed with theory are discussed.
The purpose of the current research was to test the dual processes involved in predicting cyberbullying perpetration in a sample of US parent−child dyads. The Barlett Gentile cyberbullying model ...(BGCM) posits how positive cyberbullying attitudes mediate the relationship between anonymity perceptions and cyberbullying perpetration; however, less is known about (a) whether this mediated link is significant for youth and adults alike, (b) if the strength of the relationships in the BGCM differ between youth and adults, and (c) the role of child (or parent) perceptions of their parent's (or child's) cyberbullying behavior has on cyberbullying. Two hundred US parent−child dyads completed measures to assess cyberbullying perpetration, cyberbullying attitudes, cyberbullying perceptions, and anonymity perceptions. Results showed support for BGCM postulates for parents and adolescents; however, the mediated relationship was stronger for youth than adults. Moreover, cyberbullying perceptions correlated strongly with cyberbullying attitudes and cyberbullying perpetration. Results are discussed in terms of theory and intervention applications.
The world is currently grappling with the medical, psychological, economic, and behavioral consequences of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The existing research has rightly been focused on the medical ...contributions - treatment, symptoms, prevalence, etc. - which are paramount. A paucity of research has tested the psychological and behavioral consequences of COVID-19. In two cross-sectional studies of US adults, we posited that personal (e.g., being diagnosed with COVID-19) and proximal (e.g., knowing people with COVID-19) experiences with COVID-19 would be related to cyberbullying perpetration due to an increase in stress. Using path modeling, results showed that (a) personal and proximal COVID-19 experiences positively correlated with cyberbullying (Studies 1 and 2) and (b) personal COVID-19 experiences were indirectly related to cyberbullying through stress, but not proximal experiences (Study 2).
Need for cognition (NFC)—a stable personality trait associated with the enjoyment of thinking—has been shown to influence myriad social situations; however, no research has tested the direct and ...indirect effects of NFC on aggression. We predicted that NFC would negatively correlate with aggression, which would be mediated by rumination. Participants (N = 216 US adults) completed measures assessing NFC, aggression, and rumination. In line with our hypotheses, results showed that NFC was negatively correlated with aggression, and both anger rumination and more general rumination mediated this relationship. Future research and conclusions are discussed.
Cyberbullying has emerged as a societal issue, and the majority of the research examining cyberbullying perpetration samples adolescent and/or emerging adult populations. A paucity of empirical ...attention has focused on young children (aged 8-10) regarding their cyberbullying frequency and predictors. The current study sampled 142 US youth aged 8-10 years and assessed their cyberbullying perpetration rate and cellular phone ownership. Results indicated that (a) older participants were more likely to cyberbully than their younger peers; (b) higher rates of cyberbullying were found for youth who already owned a cellular phone; and (c) an interaction between participant age and cellular phone ownership was found, suggesting that cyberbullying was highest for only the 10-year-old group who owned a cellular phone. These findings have implications for (a) parents, school administrators, health care providers, and anyone else interested in better understanding the predictors of cyberbullying perpetration; (b) intervention specialists focused on reducing cyberbullying in youth; and (c) a researcher interested in understanding the basic theoretical underpinnings of cyberbullying. Based on these findings, we recommend that (a) cyberbullying interventions be administered to youth as early as elementary school; (b) parents/guardians carefully consider the positive and negative consequences of youth cellular phone usage; and (c) increased communication between youth and parents/guardians concerning youth cellular phone activities.
The psychological consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic are just now starting to be understood; however, the behavioral consequences are less understood. Thus, the current report examined ...whether cyberbullying processes and frequency are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared US adult participant data from six months before the start of the pandemic (July 2019; n = 181) to data collected in the middle of the pandemic (May, 2020; n = 173) to determine if there are any significant differences in anonymity perceptions, belief in the irrelevance of muscularity for online bullying (BIMOB), cyberbullying attitudes, and cyberbullying perpetration. Results showed that there were significant increases in BIMOB, cyberbullying attitudes, and cyberbullying perpetration during the pandemic, but no significant change for anonymity perceptions. Further, the relationships between several variables germane to cyberbullying perpetration prediction were stronger during the pandemic than before. Overall, these findings add to our understanding of the behavioral impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on US adults.
Examining cyberbullying across the lifespan Barlett, Christopher P.; Chamberlin, Kristina
Computers in human behavior,
June 2017, 2017-06-00, 20170601, Letnik:
71
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Understanding the variables and processes that predict cyberbullying perpetration has become important to developing theory and contributing to intervention. One recent cyberbullying model that has ...received recent support is the Barlett and Gentile (2012) model. Briefly, this model applies broader learning theory to predict that anonymity and the lack of concern about strength differential predict cyberbullying behavior through the development of positive attitudes towards cyberbullying. To test these learning postulates, the current study had 167 youth (average age = 13.76) and 552 adults (average age = 36.20) complete measures of cyberbullying behavior, cyberbullying attitudes, anonymity, belief in the non-importance of physical strength online, and time spent online. Results showed that the relation between age and the aforementioned variables was quadratic (rather than linear), such that cyberbullying increased from youth to emerging adulthood and then decreased.
•Examined participant's age on cyberbullying.•Participants aged between 11 and 75 years completed questionnaires.•Results showed age correlated with cyberbullying.•Results showed age moderated cyberbullying relations.•Overall, age is theoretically related to cyberbullying processes.
Abstract The current study used the risk factor approach to test the unique and combined influence of several possible risk factors for cyberbullying attitudes and behavior using a four-wave ...longitudinal design with an adolescent US sample. Participants (N = 96; average age = 15.50 years) completed measures of cyberbullying attitudes, perceptions of anonymity, cyberbullying behavior, and demographics four times throughout the academic school year. Several logistic regression equations were used to test the contribution of these possible risk factors. Results showed that (a) cyberbullying attitudes and previous cyberbullying behavior were important unique risk factors for later cyberbullying behavior, (b) anonymity and previous cyberbullying behavior were valid risk factors for later cyberbullying attitudes, and (c) the likelihood of engaging in later cyberbullying behavior increased with the addition of risk factors. Overall, results show the unique and combined influence of such risk factors for predicting later cyberbullying behavior. Results are discussed in terms of theory.
Scholars have contended that cyberbullying perpetration is a learned social behavior, and one way to show evidence for cyberbullying learning is to test the longitudinal reciprocal relationships ...between cyberbullying behavior and related cyberbullying‐related cognitions (e.g., attitudes). A paucity of research has tested these learning tenets, and no research that we are aware of has examined the moderating role of sex. The current study used a two‐wave longitudinal design with US youth. Participants completed measures of cyberbullying attitudes and perpetration. Results showed that early cyberbullying attitudes and behavior predicted later cyberbullying attitudes and behavior; however, and most importantly, sex moderated those relationships. Males had stronger longitudinal relationships than females. Results are interpreted regarding theory.
Cyber-racism has emerged as a societal issue that affects many youths and adults; however, no published work has elucidated the psychological processes germane to predicting cyber-racism ...perpetration. Theory-without data to support its postulates-argues that online disinhibition mediates the relationship between anonymity afforded the online user and cyber-racism. The purpose of the current research was to examine this prediction and add to the theory by testing additional mediators and moderators. Six empirical studies tested this theory with U.S. adults, and results reliably showed that online disinhibition mediated the relationship between anonymity and cyber-racism. Moreover, we also found evidence to suggest that (a) this mediated effect remained while controlling for real-world variables, (b) the mediated effect was moderated by racial prejudice, (c) the mediated effect was moderated by cyberbullying perpetration, and (d) that certain types of online disinhibition are stronger mediators than others. Finally, Study 7 synthesized these six studies and found evidence for the mediating influence of online disinhibition in the relationship between anonymity and cyber-racism.
